Ceremony: PHUNK@30 – A Retrospective of Three Decades of Art and Design

Ceremony – PHUNK at 30 celebrates three decades of PHUNK, a Singapore-based art and design collective renowned for its interdisciplinary creativity and global impact. Founded in 1994 by Alvin Tan, Melvin Chee, Jackson Tan, and William Chan, PHUNK is a powerhouse in the art and design world, known for its unique, collaborative approach. Operating with the synergy of a rock band, PHUNK creates art that is deeply rooted in multiculturalism, blending Chinese mythology, Japanese manga, Western pop culture, and urban subcultures. This 30^th anniversary exhibition provides an immersive look into PHUNK’s journey, tracing how their themes and visual style have evolved to capture the intersections of tradition and modernity, global and local influences.

Coinciding with PHUNK’s anniversary is the 60^th anniversary of Old Master Q (老夫子), a beloved comic series by Alfonso Wong that has shaped the collective’s artistic sensibilities since childhood. Old Master Q, an iconic Hong Kong comic from the 1960s, uses humour and social commentary to reflect everyday life in Asian society. To commemorate these dual anniversaries, PHUNK created a special edition of CONTROL CHAOS, reimagining it as CONTROL CHAOS X OMQ and merging Old Master Q’s characters into their visual universe.

Originally created in 2003, CONTROL CHAOS stands as one of PHUNK’s most significant works, inspired by the collective’s memories of Singapore’s Haw Par Villa, a theme park featuring dioramas of Chinese mythology. The artwork reinterprets heaven, earth, and hell through a contemporary lens, blending elements from traditional Chinese art, Hong Kong pulp fiction, Japanese anime, and more. CONTROL CHAOS reflects PHUNK’s multicultural identities and their exploration of complex cultural narratives within a modern framework. This updated edition integrates Old Master Q characters into PHUNK’s mythological realm, offering audiences a fresh take that blends nostalgia with humour and innovation.

CONTROL CHAOS X OMQ not only revives familiar characters in a new context but also exemplifies PHUNK’s commitment to interweaving individual and shared cultural memories. By incorporating Old Master Q’s eccentric characters into their dynamic, chaotic universe, PHUNK creates a visual experience that reflects on identity and heritage. The result is a playful exploration of memory and nostalgia, inviting viewers to ponder the relationship between traditional narratives and contemporary culture.